Join us for a day of dialogue focused on one of our region’s most pressing concerns, affordable Indigenous housing. Convened by Simon Fraser University’s Community Engaged Research initiative (CERi) and Indigenous Studies, this gathering welcomes policy makers, developers, community leaders, researchers, financial agencies and others committed to thoughtful action Together we will share knowledge and experiences and identify ways to support ongoing positive change. The dialogue will feature Indigenous-led developments, aimed at addressing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the city’s homeless population. Among the key projects discussed will be the 6,000-unit Sen̓áḵw development led by the Squamish Nation, the Ho'-kee-melh Kloshe Lum project on 1015 E Hastings, Chief Leonard George House and projects by societies like Lu'ma Native Housing and DTES Land Trust. learn more

The Climate Action Research Workshop Series supports graduate students from U of T and SFU in building the skills, relationships, and perspectives needed to conduct community‑engaged, justice‑oriented climate research. Through four interactive workshops offered from April to June, participants will explore collaborative partnership models, pathways for activating hope through research, equity‑driven approaches, and effective climate communication. learn more

This is a collaborative post from: Samona Marsh (co-author of a chapter in Critical Futures), Secretary of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), Vice President of the Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War, and P.O.W.E.R. member; Tyson Singh Kelsall ਟਾਈਸਨ ਸਿ ੰਘ, PhD candidate in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences and recipient of this year’s community-engaged graduate scholar award, and member of Care Not Cops and P.O.W.E.R.; Paul Henry, P.O.W.E.R. member; Dr. Kanna Hayashi, Associate Professor in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Principal Investigator behind P.O.W.E.R.; and Dave Hamm, President of VANDU and P.O.W.E.R. member. But what if higher education is not simply a system in crisis? What if it is one of the last remaining public institutions whose mandate is hope? learn more

Over the past five years, the Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) at 312 Main has grown into a dynamic hub for participatory, community-driven research at Simon Fraser University. Building on its origins in SFU’s University Steering Committee on Community-Engaged Research, CERi now connects scholars, students, and community partners through a network of programs that translate research into real-world impact. This Five-Year Report highlights the evolution of CERi’s programs, partnerships, and projects, from the 312 Main Research Shop and Indigenous Knowledge Research Exchange to collaborative initiatives addressing climate resilience, housing justice, and democratic engagement. Through our projects, publications and programs, we illustrate how CERi’s approach to co-creation, training, and knowledge mobilization advances a more inclusive and responsive university research culture. learn more

This article is written by Grace Kwan - Research Fellow at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. Grace Kwan received their MA in Sociology at SFU in 2023. learn more

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